How purple states foster consensus and build with Brian Regli

Abundance is about the promise of building more, more effectively. But getting there requires more than big laws—it takes local capacity, political will, and the ability to turn ambition into action.

In this episode, Kate Gasparro sit down with Brian Regli, a former top advisor in Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration in Pennsylvania. They talk about what it’s like to be on the inside of a purple-state government translating federal policy into tangible progress. From lead pipe replacement and broadband expansion to industrial decarbonization and mine land solar, Brian shares the realities behind the rhetoric—where success hinges not just on funding, but on local know-how and consensus.

Together, Kate and Brian explore what a Project 2029 agenda could look like in a leaner, more fractured political landscape—how we align supply and demand, reform permitting and procurement, and empower local institutions to deliver. Because abundance doesn’t happen on paper—it happens in the places willing and ready to build.

This conversation follows our last one with former political leaders, rediscovering how we build together.

Resources:

Assessment of solar development on previously impacted mine lands in Pennsylvania (PA Department of Environmental Protection)

Feds offer $90M for vast solar array on PA mine land (Bay Journal)

PWSA celebrates its 10,000th lead service line replacement (WESA)

Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)

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